* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Dean Mark Wilkins (born 12 July 1962) is an English former footballer Wilkins is an experienced English coach, former manager of Brighton and Hove Albion FC and assistant manager to both Alan Pardew and Nigel Adkins at Southampton FC achieving successive promotions and Premier League status before moving on to Reading FC with Nigel Adkins, he also enjoyed a long and successful playing career for clubs in the top leagues in England and Europe.

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Born into a footballing family he is the son of George Wilkins and the youngest brother of former England international Ray Wilkins, Chelsea defender Graham Wilkins and Brentford midfielder Steve Wilkins. Between 1980-1984 Wilkins played for QPR, Brighton & Hove Albion and Leyton Orient (on loan) in England, with two summer loan spells in 1981 and 1982 in Finland’s 1st division with MYPA. In 1984 he left English football to enjoy a successful three years playing for PEC Zwolle 82 in Holland playing against the likes of, Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Ronald Koeman. Playing under coaches Terry Venables at QPR and Co Adriannse at PEC Zwolle fuelled his desire to become a coach even at that early stage of his playing career. He returned to England from Holland for a second spell with Brighton & Hove Albion, captaining the club to the verge of the Premier League in season 1990-91. After scoring a spectacular free kick in injury time of the final game to get into the play offs, a two legged semi final 6-2 demolition of Millwall culminated in Brighton losing 3-1 to Neil Warnock’s Notts County. Wilkins scored Brighton’s goal, and so became the last Brighton player to score at the old historic Wembley Stadium. An outstanding passer of the ball, free kick specialist with great leadership qualities and tactical awareness, he finished his professional playing career with Brighton who awarded him a testimonial season for his dedication, loyalty and ten years service.

Wilkins assumed the position of caretaker manager when Mark McGhee was sacked in early September 2006. Later that month, it was announced that Wilkins had been given the job on a permanent basis.[1] On 3 April, Wilkins was offered a three-year contract with Brighton & Hove Albion, which was agreed on 24 April.[2]

He returned to Brighton & Hove Albion as Youth Team Coach to transform the development programme. Over an eight year period from June 1998 – May 2006 an incredible 27 players came through the Youth Team and made their debuts into the 1st Team amassing well over a 1500 games between them. While also winning 5 league titles the Youth Team also beat Brendon Rogers Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup reaching the 6th Round for the first time ever. After a short period as 1st Team Coach Wilkins assumed the position of caretaker manager when Mark McGhee was sacked in September 2006. Later that month, it was announced that Wilkins had been given the job on a permanent basis. On 3 April, Wilkins was offered a three-year contract with Brighton & Hove Albion, which was agreed on 24 April. That initial period was spent adapting training strategies of the 1st Team in preparation for a promotion challenge the following campaign. On a restricted budget Season 2007-08 started well with 17 players in a squad of 23 coming through the successful Youth Development Programme. This young and exciting squad reached 4th place in League 1 by the end of December. A number of players were sold in a six week period seeing the team drop down the league before recovering and rallying to 7th position just missing out on a play off spot behind Leeds United. Despite taking the Seagulls to a credible 7th place finish In early May 2008, it was announced he was to be replaced as manager at Brighton & Hove Albion by former manager Micky Adams, As a consequence Wilkins was offered his former role as first team coach at the club. However, he rejected the offer and parted company with the club he had been associated with in various capacities for twenty years. After spending the following season scouting Europe for Roy Hodgson’s successful Fulham team, on 31 July 2009 Wilkins was named as Alan Pardew's assistant manager at Southampton.[3] On 30 August 2010, Wilkins was briefly caretaker manager at Southampton after manager Alan Pardew was sacked. Nigel Adkins was appointed, Wilkins continued as Adkins's assistant, helping Southampton achieve successive promotions back into the Premier League. Wilkins was the person who suggested Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain join the 1st Team Squad having watched him come on as a substitute for the Youth Team. Developing him, Luke Shaw, James Ward-Prowse and Callum Chambers along the way, as well as changing the fortunes of experienced players. Adam Lallana, Ricky Lambert, Morgan Schneiderlin and Jose Fonte all benefiting from his expertise. He was dismissed, along with Adkins, on 18 January 2013. In July 2013 he reunited with Adkins at Reading,